Diesel 10 was left alone for several days; no one spoke to him, and no one came near him. Sometimes, he felt angry and other times, he was sad, and he thought about everything he had done in the past and where he was now.

At last, the Fat Controller came back. "It's high time you learned how to be a proper engine, Diesel 10," he said sternly. "I have spoken with your Manager and we have agreed to send you to Vicarstown Yard where you will shunt trucks and coaches until further notice." Diesel 10 said nothing.

Edward and BoCo were sent to Vicarstown to keep an eye on Diesel 10 while Rosie and Henry were sent to work elsewhere for a while. The Fat Controller had told them that they could help set a good example. While Edward assisted Diesel 10 with his shunting, BoCo helped Hank and Murdoch with their heavy goods trains.

Days passed and Diesel 10 stayed silent. Whenever another engine would speak to him or just say 'hullo', he would always snarl and sometimes look away pretending to ignore them. Almost every day, he would see BoCo talking and laughing with the other engines. This made him cross, and he clenched his claw angrily.

Every night, Diesel 10 refused to go to the Shed, and he slept outside with only the coaches and silly trucks for company. While they were annoying sometimes, to him, anything was better than sharing a shed with BoCo and his steam engine friends.

A week later, Diesel was arranging Henry's next train as the sun went down. As he went to refuel, Edward was there taking on water. "Another hard day's work, Diesel 10?" Edward asked. Diesel 10 just snorted. Edward sighed. "I know you don't like us, but you might want to join us in the Shed tonight. The Yard Manager says it's going to be very cold." But Diesel 10 pretended he hadn't heard.

Darkness fell and a cold wind blew. Diesel 10 sat alone in the sidings trying his hardest to stop shivering.

Then, the night Foreman arrived. "Diesel 10, you must go to the Shed at once. It's far too cold out here tonight."

"I won't go," muttered Diesel 10, saying his first words in days.

The Foreman frowned. "I can see that your frames are trembling and if you stay out here, your engine might not start in the morning and that will cause more trouble." Diesel 10's eyes went wide and with much reluctance, his engine roared into life.

The other engines were surprised when Diesel 10 backed into the Shed. "Good evening, Diesel 10," said BoCo politely, "some chilly night, isn't it?" Diesel 10 frowned and looked away.

"The Yard Manager says you've been doing very well," Edward added.

"It's true," agreed Hank, "with you and Edward working together, we've been able to get our work done sooner." But Diesel 10 still said nothing.

BoCo looked thoughtful. "I'm sure the Fat Controller will let you go back to the Smelter's Yard soon. When he hears how well you've done, he's bound to-"

"ENOUGH!" shouted Diesel 10, "will you worn hunks of metal just leave me alone?!"

"We're only trying to help," Edward insisted.

"I don't need any help from a clanking tea kettle like you?!"

"What is your problem?!" fumed Murdoch. "Edward and BoCo have been trying to help you, but all you do is push them aside."

"I'll tell you what my problem is," Diesel 10 growled. "It's all of you! This is the worst place I've ever worked! Silly steamers are still pulling such grand trains when they should've been scrapped years ago! Diesels are actually friends with them; it's disgusting! And you, BoCo, are the worst diesel I have ever known! We diesels have always been the better engines, yet you refuse to show that we are superior in every way! It's because of engines like you that everyone thinks steamers are better than us!"

All the engines stared in silence; they could not believe what they had heard…At last BoCo spoke up. "Diesel 10…you…are a disgrace," he said crossly. "Even when I worked on the Mainland, I have never known an engine worse than you."

"I see that you don't understand why engines like me are still working here," frowned Edward. "It doesn't matter if an engine is newer, more modern or up to date. We steam engines are still on this railway because we are useful. We know what it means to work hard and keep a railway running; something you seem to have never understood at all."

"That's why I'm here," BoCo continued. "I was new myself once, but my engine was troublesome and the workmen were cross with me, even though it wasn't my fault. I thought I was going to be scrapped, but the Fat Controller saw how hard I worked, and I joined his railway. He was even able to fix my engine and help me run properly. Edward, Henry, Darek and Norman were just the same."

"Don't forget electric engines too," added Murdoch. "Many of them are more modern than any of us. If you went back to the Mainland, they could replace you one day."

"We've all seen old diesel parts in the Scrapyards too," said Hank sadly, "and it's a shame, even for steamers like us."

"You're always talking about how diesels should run this island," finished BoCo. "Seeing the way that you boss everyone else around, I don't think you do care about other diesels. All you care about…is yourself." Diesel 10 said no more; he had a lot to think about.

The next day, Diesel 10 was still a very quiet engine, but he didn't frown and growl like he had before, and he looked at others when they spoke to him. That afternoon, he arranged some coaches and brought them to the platform. There was lots of hustle and bustle, but all the passengers glared as he rolled up to the platform.

Suddenly, everyone was startled by the sound of an engine whistling franticly. The Stationmaster ran out of his Office. "Everyone, stand away from the platform!" he shouted.

"What's happened?" asked a porter.

"Gordon's brakes have failed; he can't stop!"

"Isn't he pulling the Express?!"

"The Vicarstown Bridge!" cried a passenger. "It's up!"

Sure enough, a ship was approaching the Bridge to pass underneath it. Gordon's whistle grew louder as he neared the Station; everyone was worried.

Then…a loud horn sounded…and Diesel 10 raced forward. "Switch the points! Switch the points!" he yelled.

The Signalman in the Station heard and acted quickly. Diesel 10 raced onto the other line just as Gordon thundered in with the Express.

"Runaway train!" Gordon cried in panic. "Out of the way! Clear the tracks!" Then, he saw Diesel 10 ahead of him. "Oh no! that horrible diesel's going to make me crash!" Gordon came up behind Diesel 10 and bumped him hard. He shut his eyes and waited for the worst.

Diesel 10's brakes came on and he put every ounce of his weight and strength against his back end. Sparks flew from the rails as Diesel 10 saw the Vicarstown Bridge get closer and closer. He clenched his teeth and his claw as he strained to hold Gordon and his coaches back…

Then…it was quiet. Gordon and Diesel 10 opened their eyes; they had broken through the barrier and stopped with Diesel 10's buffers just inches from the Bridge…but the two engines and the Express were still on the rails and everyone was safe. Gordon was speechless, but his Driver and Fireman, the passengers and the sailors on the ship all cheered.

Edward, James and BoCo were sent to help at once. As James took the Express, Edward took Gordon to the Steamworks while BoCo helped Diesel 10, and everyone clapped and cheered until the two diesels were out of sight.

Later, Diesel 10 was at the Dieselworks having his own brakes fixed and his engine looked at…when the Fat Controller and the Smelter's Yard Manager arrived. "Well, Diesel 10," said the Fat Controller, "I am surprised by what I've heard. Saving Gordon…and the Express from a terrible crash?"

Diesel 10 found it hard to speak. "Er…I, erm…well…I-I could let the passengers get hurt, Sir."

"What you did was very risky," said the Manager, "…and very brave. I didn't think you would care at all."

"I…I…didn't…until…Edward and BoCo spoke to me."

The Fat Controller pondered. "I see…I had a feeling they would help you see sense and I see that I was right. You have done very well, Diesel 10 and today, you proved yourself a hero to our passengers and we are all very proud of you. Continue keeping up the good work and one day, you too may finally be a Really Useful Engine." And for the first time…in a long, long time…Diesel 10…smiled.